Pretentious Shlock (With spoiler at end)

Rating: Null/10 (26 October 2003)

I would've liked this movie better if it didn't take itself so seriously, as I am likely to like any zombie movie that comes out. This movie's use of the quick zombie (akin to a new york city bum cracked out on angeldust) was an interesting idea, but the busy, choppy quick cut violent scenes really dissapointed me, because I'm a big fan of gore, and since this wasn't exactly a "suspense" movie, there was no need to cut away so artsy-fartsily. Basically, this movie takes Romero's Dead trilogy and condences it to 2 hours, sometimes lifting entire scenes from the other movies. The character's aren't very interesting, except for the girl's father, whose character was likable I thought. The heroine lead has a strong dynamic to her, until she becomes a second fiddle in the last part of the movie.
SPOILER ALERT!!! What left me disgrunted the most about this movie was the ending, or the two endings, as promoted on TV. The "depressing ending" isn't depressing as it is wasteful, as it serves no other point than to end on a down note, without any tragic elements or reason whatsoever. It's a stupid marketing ploy. If this movie wanted to be depressing and still be good, it should have ended with the female lead shooting the male lead after he brutally murders one of the millitary commanders. This would make sense, since he, although human, is acting monstrously, and she told him earlier she would kill him in a second if she thought he changed. Instead she seems to accept the fact he's crossed over into being a human monster and, after this grisly scene, they quickly have a cornball kiss. Please. Give me a break. Why anyone would think this movie is a new horror masterpiece is beyond me. I'd rather go see Freddy Vs. Jason. At least that doesn't take itself seriously.